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Statement of the Social Work Action Network Philippines: “ASA KA PA? and the BUFFER ZONE”

9 February 2023

ASA KA PA? and the BUFFER ZONE

Asukal, Sibuyas, at Asin (ASA) have always been part of the daily lives of Filipinos. Using these three commodities in understanding our current conditions are very instructive.

Last week, the Sugar Regulatory Commission has proposed to import 450,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar this year following the instruction of President Marcos to bring down retail prices of the sweetener (Rivera, 2023). The proposed volume will cover a two-month buffer stock of sugar at the end of the milling season (Rivera, 2023). Last year’s plan to import 200,000 tons of sugar will make life less sweeter to some 66,000 sugar workers who will be directly displaced from their jobs and about 500,000 who derive indirect employment. If each worker has family of five the life would be less sweeter for about 3 million Filipinos (Mendoza, 2022).

Onions and salt have always been part of the meals of the Filipinos, “a staple in Filipino cuisine.” For culinary enthusiasts, both can make or break a dish. Last January 10, 2023, the president approved the importation of 21,060 MT and expected to arrive later this month or the first week of February, 2023 (CNN, 2023). This planned importation “to soothe a brutally high inflation and growing consumer woes could end up hurting onion farmers in the country (Royandoyan, 2023).
Onion farmers have been driven to despair, with some taking their own lives, after bearing the brunt of protracted losses, mounting debts, unscrupulous traders who have made their crops out of consumers’ reach, and the deluge of smuggled onions in the market (Lagare et. al., 2023).

The onion has become symbol of inflation (Palatino, 2023). Funny memes depicting onion as a luxury gift and symbol of affluence were widely shared on social media. The humor hides the suffering of poor families who are barely surviving amid the rising prices of basic goods and the absence of a substantial wage hike (Palatino, 2023).

We imported 628,500 MT or equivalent to 92 percent of the country’s salt requirements in 2019 and 2020, since local production was unable to meet demand (CNN Philippines Staff, 2022). According to an expert, the country has only 2,000 hectares remaining salt farm beds. This is very ironic since the Philippines is an archipelagic country.

As we all know, the structural driver for these phenomena is no other than the neoliberal ‘development’ paradigm that has been fully implemented since the 1970s. Consequently, heavy dependence on importations breeds cartels and syndicates that hoard the imported commodities, created artificial shortage of supply and raised prices. This is, of course is not possible without the connivance of well-positioned government officials.

The anti-Filipino character of this ‘development’ paradigm is exacerbated the extreme callousness of the current regime to the plight of the people. Earlier in August, 2022, Diokno said that “the giving out of ayuda in relation to the pandemic is already a waste of public funds.” According to Sonny Africa, Executive Director of IBON, “the high of PhP 233.7 billion worth of cash support in 2020 fell to PhP 9.5 billion in 2022and is down to a trifling PhP 10.5 million this year…. Regular emergency assistance programs have also been cut and are down from PhP 97.4 billion in 2022 to PhP 90 billion this year or a PhP 7.5 billion budget cut. This included billions slashed from the budgets for families in difficult circumstances (Department of Social Welfare and Development), displaced workers (Department of Labor and Employment), and overseas workers (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. The Marcos Jr administration even cut the budgets of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS) by PhP 5.1 billion and of the KALAHI_CIDSS community development program by PhP 2.8 billion.”

These facts are either deliberately hidden from the public coupled if not for the advocates and people’s organizations that expose them. There is also the barrage of the disinformation about the GDP growth redounding to the interests of the people. But the more insidious tactic is churning of lies that the government still care for the people. This is the buffer zone.

We social workers have been charged together with other disciplines and professions as part of the buffer zone. For Paul Kivel, “people in the ruling class have always wanted to prevent people at the bottom of the pyramid from organizing for power in order to maintain the power, control, and, most importantly, wealth that they have accumulated. At the same time, they have generally wanted to avoid directly managing people on the bottom of the pyramid. To maintain this separation and to prevent themselves from becoming the objects of people’s anger, they have used legal, educational, and professional systems to create a network of occupations, careers, and professions to deal directly with the rest of the population. This buffer zone comprises all occupations that carry out the agenda of the ruling class without requiring ruling class presence or visibility.”

Under this current ‘dark time”, the unmasking of the buffer zone is propelled by the sharpening of the contradiction between those who professed to govern and those at the bottom. But the complete unmasking and bursting of the buffer zone does not come naturally. Repression does not automatically lead to resistance. The pricking and the elimination of the buffer zone starts with the raising of our political consciousness and together with the people understand our current dark period, deepen our commitment, and eventually taking the resolve to act collectively.

One of these is exposing and condemning the mainstream social work practice as part of the buffer zone that has long time ago lost its relevance.

The need for transformative social work has long been warranted. Let us help each other to realize it.

Another Social Work is Possible!

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CNN Philippines Staff (2022). 96% pf PH salt might be imported by 2030, group warns. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/…/PhilASIN-salt-import…
CNN Philippines Staff (2023). PH to import 21,060 MT of onions, fewer than earlier eyed. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/…/PH-to-import-21-060…
Lagare, J.B., Ramos, M., & Gascon, M. (2023). Loses driving onion farmers to desperation.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/…/losses-driving-onion…

Mendoza, T. (2022). Importing 200,000 tons of sugar: Making life bitter for 3M Filipinos. https://opinion.inquirer.net/…/importing-200000-tons-of…

Palatino, M. (2023). How the Onion Became the Symbol of Inflation in the Philippines. https://thediplomat.com/…/how-the-onion-became-the…/

Rivera, D. (2023). 450,000 MT of sugar eyed for importation. https://www.philstar.com/…/450000-mt-sugar-eyed…

Royandoyan, R. (2023). Import plan to hurt local onion farmers-analyst.
https://www.philstar.com/…/import-plan-hurt-local-onion…

SOCIAL WORK ACTION NETWORK – PHILIPPINES
January 30, 2023

UP Graduates take Oath as Social Workers

16 November 2022

Graduates from UP CSWCD took the oath as newly-registered social workers during the oathtaking ceremony held on November 14, 2022 at the Fiesta Pavillion, Manila Hotel. Ms. Lorna C. Gabad, Chairperson of the Philippine Regulatory Board for Social Workers, administered the oathtaking.

Ms. Luna Cajilig Salanio, BS Social Work graduate from UP CSWCD, topped the Social Worker Licensure Examination given on September 2022. Four other graduates from the college joined Ms. Salanio in the top ten namely: Sydney Claudelle Miña Aguba, Jeravem Gamao Ortiyas, Gia Santos Evangelista, and Hermie Dawn Ilasin Salmon. A total of 2,955 out 4,723 passed the said examination.

UP President Danilo L. Concepcion received the award recognizing the university as one of the top performing schools with 100% passing rate. UP has consistently maintained its perfect passing rate in the licensure examination for many years now. UP graduates have topped the last three has topped the last three examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission.
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In her message, Ms. Salanio, highlighted the need to amplify the voice of the poor and marginalized, “trabaho natin bilang mga manggagawang panlipunan na pakinggan at unawain nang lubos ang mga boses at tinig na ito, gaano pa man sila kahina at kagaralgal”. She ended her message with words of encouragement to her fellow social workers, “uli’t muli at lagi’t lagi, bumalik tayo at matuto kasama ang mga pamayanan at paglingkuran ang sambayanan!”

UP CSWCD Presentation at the World Conference on Social Work Education in Seoul

9 November 2022

Faculty members from UP CSWCD’s Department of Social Work presented the initial results of the study, “Stories from the Field: Social Work at the Time of the Pandemic”, at the Joint Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development (SWESD) held on October 26 to 28, 2022, in Seoul, South Korea. The theme of SWESD 2022 is “Redefining Social Policy and social work Practice in a Post-Pandemic Society: Social Welfare Programs and social work Education at a Crossroads”, hosted by the International Council on Social Welfare and International Association of Schools of Social Work.

Assistant Professors Hazel Cometa-Lamberte, Suzanne Nazal, Florence Pasos, and Glennie Marie Sina-on discussed the challenges and lessons faced by social workers during the onsite symposium. The findings were based on 16 stories contributed by social work practitioners from various setting all over the country.

In particular, the study revealed the true cost of inequality in which poor communities which lack health and social services, are those which experienced the worse impact of COVID-19. The presentation also undescored the importance of ICT in case management and engaging with clients and communities, as well as the need for the profession to optimize the use of ICT in innovative and creative practice. It also emphasized the social workers’ important role as frontliners in COVID-19 response, together with other helping professionals. Caring for social workers’ physical and emotional well-being is essential for the growth of the profession. The presenters posed a challenge on the preparedness of the Social Work Profession to develop the necessary tools, practice models, and policy changes moving into a postcovid-19 world.

Associate Professor Justin Francis Leon V. Nicolas, PhD, made an online presentation on “Remote Community Organizing Strategies during the Pandemic: Introducing Change through Model-Building”. He highlighted how the pandemic has opened opportunities for social workers to explore innovative strategies in working with communities. The book, “Remaking Social Work for the New Global Era”, was also launched during the conference. Dr. Nicolas contributed a chapter, titled, “Knowledge Creation in Social Work During the Time of COVID-19”. Edited by Ngoh Tiong Tan, P.K. Shajahan, the book features global perspectives on the future of Social Work.

Asst. Professors Hazel Cometa-Lamberte, Glennie Marie Sina-on, and Diadem Rose Camba-Jontarciego of Iloilo Doctors College, presented their paper in the oral presentation category entitled “An Exploratory Study on the Challenges Encountered and Strategies Employed by the Philippine Child Caring Agencies Amidst COVID-19: Social Work Administration in the New Normal”. The team presented the challenges encountered and strategies employed in managing and operating the residential care facilities for children in the Philippines during the height of COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed implications for the conduct of social work administration and the delivery of social welfare and services in residential settings.

UP Tops Social Work Board Exams

28 September 2022

UP Tops Social Work Board Exams

Graduates from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) have led the successful examinees of the Social Worker Licensure Examination administered by the Board for Social Workers this September 2022.

Luna Cajilig Salanio topped the examination with an 88.80% rating. Other UP CSWCD graduates who join Salanio in the top ten are the following: Sydney Claudelle Miña Aguba and Jeravem Gamao Ortiyas (top 4, 87.60%), Gia Santos Evangelista (top 5, 87.40%) and Hermie Dawn Ilasin Salmon (top 6, 87.20%).

UPD has consistently maintained its 100% passing rate in the Social Worker Licensure Examination.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), 2,955 out 4,723 passed the Social Worker Licensure Examination given by the Board for Social Workers in Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this September 2022.

Source: https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/september-2022-licensure-examination-social-workers-results-released-three-3-working-days

Social Work Action Network Philippines (SWAN Phils) on Mr. Erwin Tulfo’s Appointment to the DSWD

3 June 2022

The Marcoses were forced to go into exile as an aftermath of the EDSA revolution in 1986. Five years after her exile, Imelda Marcos was allowed by then Pres. Corazon Aquino to return to the country to face more than 60 criminal and civil charges against her, including charges of graft and tax evasion (Rappler, 2017). During the post EDSA years, the “ruling reactionary system has allowed the political and financial rehabilitation of the Marcoses.”

In 2018, a Philippine court found her guilty of seven counts of graft, with each count punishable by a minimum of six years in prison (Gutierrez, 2018). The ruling also automatically disqualified Mrs. Marcos, who was then a congresswoman, from holding any public office (Gutierrez, 2018). The same court said the ruling could be appealed, and legal experts said that Ms. Marcos could fight a prison sentence because of her advanced age (Gutierrez, 2018).

The political redemption of the Marcoses was consummated when Ferdinand Jr., won in the recent 2022 national election. A statement from the left succinctly puts it: “For several decades now, and especially during the past several years, historical facts were distorted and people fed with false information which not only pervaded social media, but promoted as well in textbooks which poison the minds of schoolchildren about the “golden days” of the Marcos dictatorship. Imelda and the Marcos family have evaded punishment despite conviction over a number of cases of corruption and human rights violations. The tyrant Duterte, himself, has been a key peddler of the Marcos lie.”

As expected, the new president is more obsessed to “correct” the much maligned name of the Marcoses in the history of our country. After a tandem of authoritarian rule and inefficiency of the previous government in handling the pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis, the colossal task of fixing the economy was given to a breed of technocrats who possess undying adherence to neoliberalism. This is unmindful that it is the neoliberal paradigm that actually brought us to this economic mess under a highly contested political terrain.

It is in this context that we will attempt to understand why Mr. Erwin Tulfo is placed at the helm of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The traditional social work practice in the country creates its own vulnerability. Its focus on individual inadequacies both at the level of framing the problem of the service users as well its intervention finds resonance on patronage politics, which have worked and perpetuated itself in the system. Traditional social work practice promotes and nurtures the patron system even in the delivery the state’s social services. This practice is akin to a pendulum that swings according to the push of those in power. In a reactionary state, it always swings to the right. Under Duterte’s authoritarian regime, we witnessed how the state’s social service resources and arsenal have been carved into the counter-insurgency program, making a mockery of the Social Work profession’s held values and principles.

Placing Mr. Erwin T. Tulfo as the new secretary of DSWD is not simply a political payback. Yes, the Tulfo brother are known as Duterte allies. With his questionable journalism practice, highly populist stance, and rabid followers, he is deliberately placed at the DSWD to perform key ideological tasks. The ordinary people have always been victims of the ruling class, especially at the ideological sphere; that is why many people remain to be gullible.

The helping process in our Social Work profession has always been premised on the inherent dignity of the service user. That is why social justice, human rights and people’s liberation are considered as anchors on our practice. We are conscious of liberating the service users from the shackles of ignorance, unscientific mindset, and allow them to fully develop into critical thinking individuals. By fanning the gullibility of the masses, this is what Mr. Erwin Tulfo wants to negate in our profession and practice. For Forgas & Baumeiter, “ gullibility, as a failure of social intelligence in which a person is easily tricked or manipulated into an ill-advised course of action. Gullibility is closely related to credulity, which is the tendency to believe unlikely propositions that are unsupported by evidence. Gullibility is thus a factor in social influence processes, as a person’s willingness to believe false or misleading information facilitates the influence.”

The DSWD already has its own share of bureaucratic mess in its delivery of social services. A well intentioned and skilled band of social work professionals can correct this. On the other hand, Mr. Tulfo is expected to invoke the bureaucratic mess to justify shortcuts wherein his interventions can be interpreted by the service users as “efficient”. His swift intervention riding on being a bully can be harnessed in influencing the public mindset that indeed the new regime is hellbent to help the people in whatever means. We will be witnessing a shift from the Tulfo’s brand of journalism to Tulfo’s brand of social services delivery.

Definitely, he will be building his base among the service users and make the latter harp on the compassionate Marcos regime. From passivity, the masses will usher a “people’s movement” rendering support and further legitimizing the class rule of the Marcos-Arroyo-Duterte (MAD) clique. It is to paint the new regime as having the best interest of the people at the heart of their governance.

In a highly stratified society devoid of morals, the ruling class always has a deep bench of jesters, apologists, and mercenaries.

More than being a personal insult to each Social Work practitioner and student, this unfolding scenario negates what gains we have had in our pursuit of transformative social work in the context of real service to the people. It posits to bastardize the profession in the pursuit of their partisan objectives.

As we journey in these perilous times, we should not waver in our resolve to truly serve the genuine interests of the people and uphold our Social Work profession, values and principles.

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References:

Rappler, 2017). TIMELINE: How the Marcoses made their political comeback. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/162459-timeline-marcos-political-comeback/

Forgas, Joseph P & Baumeiter Roy R. (2019). The Social Psychology of Gullibility. Fake News, Conspiracy Theories and Irrational Beliefs. Taylor & Francis Group.

SOCIAL WORK ACTION NETWORK-PHILIPPINES

June 1, 2022

Statement: Rendering service to the people courts death

1 June 2022

Ms. Carmel A. Eubra, a municipal social welfare and development officer (MSWDO) of Viga, Catanduanes was killed by riding in tandem in Virac, Catanduanes last May 24, 2022. She was shot twice while driving her car inside a subdivision.

It is obvious that her killers had subjected our colleague to a surveillance and decided that the location where Ms. Eubra died was the perfect killing spot. Apparently, the location also afforded the killers the best route for their getaway.

Contracting hired killers for this dastardly act is a clear sign that somebody or a group of individuals was hell bent to eliminate Ms. Eubra.

This is again a classic case of senseless killing. It is very ironic that a social work practitioner that has overcome the challenges of being a frontliner in a rural setting just to put premium on the sacredness of life, died violently. Her passion to serve other people especially those in need was cut short. She was only 43 years old. Her dreams were crushed with her lifeless body.

Her murder was another notch of a long thread of professionals who also met the same fate, another testament that rendering service to the people invites violent death and how impunity has permeated the society.

We are living in perilous times. The death of Ms. Eubra is even not a bad omen. With a Marcos-Duterte tandem capturing the helm of the country’s political power, there will be no radical departure from the legacy of widespread human rights violations of their predecessor. In fact what is worrisome is the possibility of invoking the landslide victory in inflicting harm against the people and the so-called adherents of the “pink movement.” BBM loyalists in the social media are now starting to push for the physical decimation of the critics of the new administration.

While we demand justice for our colleague, it is now than ever that social work practitioners should close ranks and start instituting precautionary and security measure to preserve our ranks.

The battle is long and risky, but victory is inevitable.

Department of Social Work

College of Social Work and Community Development

UP Diliman

May 27, 2022

Statement: A DSWD Secretary should be beyond reproach

31 May 2022

Colleagues from various social work organizations have appealed to the incoming president “to appoint a professional social worker for the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or within the qualifications of an experienced development worker, exposed and familiar to the wide range of welfare issues and social protection programs.” The collective appeal was simply dismissed.

With the lingering impact of the nexus of pandemic and the economic crisis, the DSWD confronts an enormous challenge of providing much-needed social services and social protection to the marginalized. Social welfare administration requires expertise that is nurtured by academic training and professional experience, as clearly stated in Republic Act No. 4373: An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines and for Other Purposes.

Let us go back to an incident where the newly designated secretary of DSWD was involved.

Last May 31, 2019, Mr. Erwin Tulfo lambasted DSWD Sec. Bautista for declining to grant him a live interview, arguing it was his obligation as secretary of the dept. “Sino ba itong buang na ito? Pasensya na muna ano ha. Maski tao ka ni Pangulong Duterte, le-lecture-an muna kita (Who is this crazy person? I apologize, but even if you were appointed by President Duterte, let me lecture you (Fonbuena, 2019). Tulfo’s rant included threats to slap Bautista if he ever saw him, and to dunk his head inside a toilet bowl (Fonbuena, 2019).

Several days after, Mr. Erwin Tulfo apologized to Sec. Baustista, vowing to tone down “Tulfo’s brand of journalism (CNN Philippines, 2019). The practice of journalism has its own recognized ethical norms and standards. Practitioners in this profession always uphold these at all times. Aside from the DSWD Chief, he also apologized to the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, who threatened to file libel and defamation charges against the broadcaster (CNN Philippines, 2019). A bully can only be contained by a force greater than him.

What is worrisome is the streak of arrogance and bullying exhibited by the Tulfo brothers, including Erwin Tulfo. This is about mindset. The Tulfo brothers had always been bullies, even challenging their perceived enemies to fistfights.

The appointment of a bully as head of the department is an act of political payback since the Tulfo brothers are closely allied with the Dutertes. Good governance is about to be thrown into the gutter. It is political loyalties again rather than upholding the best interest of the people. A bully has no space in a professional organization much less being its key leader.

As the country slowly recovers from the effects of the pandemic, social service delivery should be anchored on compassion and comprehensive understanding of the relevant policies, programs, services, protocols and mechanisms. Social welfare and development programs are beyond the realms of charity, whims or popularity. They are best administered by professionals who have extensive experience, possess appropriate technical knowledge and skills, and uphold the principles and values of social work and social development practice.

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References:

CNN Philippines. (2019). Broadcaster says sorry to DSWD secretary, vows to tone down “Tulfo’s brand of journalism. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/6/3/Erwin-Tulfo-DSWD-Secretary-Rolando-Bautista-apology.html

Fonbuena, Carmela. (2019). Soldiers seethe on line after Erwin Tulfo threatens to slap ex-Army chief. https://www.rappler.com/nation/231925-soldiers-seethe-online-after-erwin-tulfo-calls-ex-army-chief-crazy/

Department of Social Work

College of Social Work and Community Development

UP Diliman

DSW Faculty Members Speak at the Biennial Convention for Social Work Educators

10 January 2022

DSW Faculty Members Speak at the Biennial Convention for Social Work Educators

Sue Magalona-Nazal

The National Association for Social Work Education, or NASWEI, held its 49TH biennial convention on November 29-30, 2021 & December 1-3, using online platforms. The theme of the conference was: “Philippine Social work Education Amidst the Pandemic: “Challenges, Innovations and Trajectories”.

As in previous conferences, faculty members from the Department of Social Work, along with selected students, actively participated in the discussions. Assistant Professor John Erwin Bañez led the plenary discussion on “Social Work Statistics”, on November 30, 2021, where he shared useful statistical analysis tools for social work research. During plenary sessions on December 1, 2021, , Dr. Justin Francis Leon V. Nicolas made a presentation on, “Publish or Perish: How to Write Publishable Journal Articles”, with panel sharing from journal writers. Dr. Angelito Meneses likewise shared his experiences as a writer, through his presentation, titled, “How to Write Publishable Books” with panel sharing from book authors, led by retired CSWCD Professor Thelma Lee-Mendoza. Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, from the UP Open University, spoke about the, “Use of Online Teaching and Assessment”, during the plenary session on December 2, 2021.

Breakout sessions likewise featured CSWCD faculty members, as well as students. On November 29, 2021, Dr. Justin Francis Leon V. Nicolas presented, “A meta-Analysis of Case Studies in Human Rights at the Heart of Response during the Time of Pandemic in the Philippines”. On the same day, Assistant Professor Gil I. Espinido, led stimulating discussion about, “Social Work as a Human Rights Profession”.

B.S. Social work students, Sydney Claudelle M. Aguba and Gia S. Evangelista, shared their research paper at a breakout session on December 1, 2021. The student paper is titled, “Revisiting Human Rights in Social Work: Filipino Social Workers’ Perception and Integration of Human Rights into their Professional Practice.

As the largest national umbrella organization of social work schools and educators, the NASWEI aims to promote and maintain high standards of social work education in the Philippines.

Call for Stories: Social Work at the time of the Pandemic

7 November 2021

“Tell Us Your COVID Stories”

Stories have the power to open our minds, impart lessons, and give hope. People’s collective experiences at the time of the pandemic have the potential to impart lessons that may help shape the knowledge foundation of the social work profession post-COVID, and beyond.

The Department of Social Work invites social workers to share stories and lessons as they face challenges brought about by COVID-19, in their professional and/or personal circumstances. Stories should be based on the contributor’s direct experience written from first-person perspective. If your stories are selected, you will be given an opportunity to get it published. Guidelines for writing and submitting stories may be downloaded here. The deadline for submission is 15 December 2021

Tell us your story.

For inquiries, contact:

Assistant Professor Suzanne M. Nazal smnazal@up.edu.ph

Associate Professor Justin V. Nicolas jvnicolas1@up.edu.ph